Resource Management Device For a Communications Network With Inter-Node Connections Associated With Shared Resource Preemption Rights and Resource Access Priority Rights

Abstract

A device (D) is dedicated to the management of resources in a communications network comprising nodes (LER, LCR) connected together via connections. This device (D) comprises management means (MG) designed to define the connections and associate the connections with resources so that these connections can be setup when necessary. The management means (MG) are also required, according to a selected criterion, to associate each connection with either a first state in which it has a preemption right on selected resources shared at least partially with at least one other connection, although not authorized to use them, or a second state in which it is authorized to use the selected resources in order to setup this connection.

1 . Resource management device (D) for a communications network comprising nodes (LER, LCR) connected together via connections, said device comprising management means (MG) designed to define said connections and associate them with resources such that said connections may be setup when necessary, characterized by the fact that said management means (MG) are also designed to associate each connection, according to a selected criterion, with either a first state in which said connection has a preemption right on selected resources shared at least partially with at least one other connection, although not authorized to use them, and a second state in which said connection is authorized to use said selected resources in order to setup said connection. 
   
   
       2 . Device set forth in  claim 1 , characterized by the fact that said management means (MG) are designed, before associating a first state with a new connection, to order the preparation of a switching matrix between connections including said new connection, so that when said new connection changes state from the first state to the second state, said new connection may be setup almost immediately. 
   
   
       3 . Device set forth in  claim 1 , characterized by the fact that said management means (MG) are designed to order the transmission of the corresponding connection states to a so-called upper network protocol layer, by a so-called lower network protocol layer managing the transport of data originating from said upper layer through said connections once these connections have been setup, such that said upper layer knows which connections are in their first state and may ask said lower layer to use these connections for data transport, when necessary. 
   
   
       4 . Device set forth  claim 1 , characterized by the fact that said management means (MG) are designed to associate a priority level with the preemption right associated with a connection. 
   
   
       5 . Device set forth in  claim 4 , characterized by the fact that in the case of resources shared by connections with priority levels associated with a second state and with different preemption right priority levels, the connection with the highest priority level takes priority for the preemption of said shared resources in order to setup said connection. 
   
   
       6 . Device set forth in  claim 5 , characterized by the fact that in the presence of resources shared by first and second connections with different first and second preemption right priority levels, said first level being lower than said second level, and when said first connection is associated with a second state while the second connection changes from the first state to the second state, said second connection is authorized to preempt said shared resources used by said first connection so as to setup said connection, said first setup connection then being interrupted. 
   
   
       7 . Device set forth in  claim 5 , characterized by the fact that in the presence of resources shared by first and second connections with different first and second preemption right priority levels, said first level being lower than said second level, and if said second connection is associated with a second state while the first connection changes from the first state to the second state, said first connection is not authorized to preempt said shared resources used by said second connection in order to setup said connection, as long as said second setup connection remains associated with a second state. 
   
   
       8 . Device set forth in  claim 1 , characterized by the fact that said management means (MG) are designed to associate a setup probability level with at least some of said connections associated with a first state. 
   
   
       9 . Device set forth in  claim 8 , characterized by the fact that said setup probability level depends on the load on the connections setup and used in said network. 
   
   
       10 . Device set forth in  claim 1 , characterized by the fact that said management means (MG) are designed to change the state associated with a connection from the first state to the second state when the load of another setup connection exceeds a selected threshold, the exceeding of the threshold constituting said selected criterion. 
   
   
       11 . Device set forth in  claim 1 , characterized by the fact that said management means (MG) are required to change the state associated with a connection from the first state to the second state on the receiving of a request from a user, said demand constituting said selected criterion. 
   
   
       12 . Device set forth in  claim 1 , characterized by the fact that said management means (MG) are designed to order the transmission of a change of connection state message to the nodes (LER, LCR) through which this connection passes, if it becomes necessary to change the state of a connection from the first state to the second state, to trigger the preemption of resources in order to set up said connection. 
   
   
       13 . Router (LER, LCR) for a connection-oriented communications network, characterized by the fact that it comprises a management device (D) according to one of the above claims, dedicated to the management of its own resources. 
   
   
       14 . Management server (SG) for a communications network comprising nodes (LER, LCR) connected together via connections, characterized by the fact that it comprises a management device (D) according to  claim 1 , dedicated to the management of at least part of the resources of said network. 
   
   
       15 . Use of the resource management device (D) according to  claim 1  in (G)MPLS protocol suite IP networks. 
   
   
       16 . Use of the resource management device (D) according to  claim 1  in circuit switching networks.